Krennic and Galen Aren’t Friends in New 'Rogue One' Footage

The touchy backstory of Imperial Director Orson Krennic and Jyn Erso’s dad Galen has been covered in the Rogue One tie-in prequel novel Catalyst, but it’ll weigh heavily in the opening of the actual movie too. As it turns out, before the events of the film, Krennic and Galen were best buddies who worked on ostensibly awesome science projects before Krennic was seduced by the evil power of the Empire. Galen decided he didn’t want his research used to threaten and hurt others, so he high-tailed it into hiding, forcing Krennic into hunting him down. Now, a clip from the scene of their first meeting in Rogue One has surfaced online.

Krennic and his squad of Death Troopers confront Galen in hiding on the planet of Lah’mu, and Krennic seems like he’s willing to make amends with his old friend as long as he decides to help him out too.

“The work has stalled. I need you to come back,” Krennic says to Galen, referencing the problem with the superlaser on the Death Star. Apparently, Galen’s know-how holds the key to figuring out how to harness the power of kyber crystals, the mysteriously powerful natural resource mined on the planet Jedha that also powers lightsabers.

Galen doesn’t take too kindly to Krennic just showing up and demanding help. “We were this close to providing peace and security for the galaxy,” Krennic says. “You’re confusing peace with terror,” Galen fires back. “Well, we have to start somewhere,” Krennic responds with the last word.

This will probably one of the first if not the opening scene of Rogue One, and it’s an important one. The former bond between Galen and Krennic as friends will be what drives Jyn Erso into her mission to steal the Death Star plans. It’s probably safe to say Galen and Krennic don’t ever hash out their differences.